PP4SD & Science Council Workshop 27th November 2006 Skills for Sustainability. Skills Needs: An Employers perspective Richard Howell Sustainable Development Policy Manager

The Environment Agency - Responsibilities  Reduce Pollution of Water, Air, Land  Water Resource Management  Waste Management  River & Coastal Flood Defence  Fishing, Recreation, Navigation  Principal Aim to Contribute to Sustainable Development

 Efficient Operator  Modern Regulator  Influential Advisor  Effective Communicator  Champion of the environment (in the context of sustainable development) Our Roles

Securing the Future - delivering Sustainable Development in the UK

Guiding principles Living Within Environmental Limits Ensuring a Strong, Healthy and Just Society Achieving a Sustainable Economy Promoting Good Governance Using Sound Science Responsibly

Changing Behaviours: A New Framework Enable  Remove barriers  Information  Facilities  Skills  Alternatives Engage  Community  Movers and Shakers  Networks  Co- production Encourage  Grants  Tax system  Recognition / peer support  Regulation & enforcement, Penalties Exemplify  Lead by example  Joined up policies CATALYSE

Evolving Skills Needs  Traditional approach: focus on technical and economic issues  Then… emphasis on health & safety  Followed by environmental & wider social impacts  Now: sustainability, embracing all of the above, across design, operation and end of life disposal. Sustainable Development

What are SD Skills ?  Good understanding of SD principles and challenges  Looks beyond immediate discipline  Involve stakeholders  Equity and balance  Thinks creatively & holistically to solve problems  Takes a cradle to grave approach  Considers long term and global implications  Risk based, proportionate solutions that work  Embraces change  Lead by example.

Who do we want with SD skills ?  Engineers  Environmentalists  Finance and procurement staff  Human Resources  Regulators  Scientists…….  Everyone

How do SD skills make a difference ?  Procurement  Regulation  Engineering  Science  Environmental Protection

Procurement  Best Value  Best Practice  Least Environmental Impact

Environmental Risk Mapping in Procurement  Does the item have potential for high energy use?  A pump uses significant energy during its life  Is it made of unsustainable materials?  Rock armour used in Flood Defence is unsustainable  Is there the risk of a pollution incident ?  Plant working in or near a river could cause an incident  Is excessive pollution caused during manufacture?  PC’s are made of highly processed components with consequent high emissions from the manufacturing process  Is there an environmental PR risk to the Agency?  The purchase of tropical hardwoods causes negative PR

Regulation  transparent  accountable  consistent  proportionate (or risk- based)  targeted (or outcome- focused)

Engineering  Work with natural processes,not against them  Cradle to Grave assessment  Address side effects

Science  Look at all the evidence  Interdisciplinary  Risk based

Environmental Protection  Systems based  Environment for people  Precautionary principle  It’s a changing world

 Demanding skill set Implications for Staff Development  Skills to be developed and acquired  Breaking New Ground  Organisational Culture